Alimony in the DC can be rehabilitative or on an indefinite basis. Rehabilitative alimony is temporary and for a certain period of time. Indefinite alimony means permanent or lifetime alimony, that is until the wife dies or the husband dies.
Alimony can be raised or lowered over time if there is a change of circumstances. If you do not get alimony at the time of the divorce, you cannot get alimony later on.
Technically, husbands can get alimony from wives, but it almost never happens.
The amount and time period of alimony is determined by the judge appropriate to the facts of your case, but the legislature has set out criteria for the court to consider and they include the following:
- Ability of the party seeking alimony to be wholly or partly self supporting.
- Time necessary for the party seeking alaimony to gain sufficient education or traning to enable that party to secure suitable employment.
- Standard of living during the marriage, but giving consideration there will be two households to maintain.
- Length of the marriage.
- Circumstances which contributed to the estrangement of the parties.
- Age.
- Health.
- Ability to pay.
- Needs for support and respective financial positions.
Living with someone after the divorce, regardless of whether you have sex or not, may cause indefinite alimony to be lowered or stopped. However, remarriage or cohabitation does not automatically terminate alimony in D.C. unless the divorce order or settlement agreement provides for that. Death of one of the persons paying or receiving alimony will terminate alimony unless the divorce settlement agreement provides otherwise.
